mendīcus, a, um, adj., beggarly, needy, in want, indigent (class.). Lit.: paupertas si malum est, mendicus esse beatus nemo potest, Cic. Fin. 5, 28, 84; cf.: solos sapientes esse, si mendicissimi (sint), divites, id. Mur. 29, 61: mendicior, Tert. de Anim. 33: prandia, Mart. 14, 81.

—As subst.: mendīcus, i, m., a beggar, mendicant: mendicum malim mendicando vincere, Quam, etc., Plaut. Bacch. 3, 4, 16: mendici, i. e. the priests of Cybele, Hor. S. 1, 2, 2.

—As a term of abuse, a beggar, ragamuffin, Ter. And. 4, 5, 20.

— Transf., in gen., poor, paltry, mean, sorry, pitiful: instrumentum mendicum, Cic. de Or. 3, 24, 92.

—Hence, adv.: mendīcē, in a beggarly manner, meanly (post-Aug. and post-class.): non tam mendice tecum agam, sed plenā manu, Sen. Ep. 33, 6.

—Comp.: ne mendicius patre coenaret, Tert. Pall. 5.